First the breaking non-news: the cable networks went into overdrive today reporting on a potentially deadly threat that shut down parts of Boston. Then the threat turned out to be a marketing campaign for “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” part of Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim” block.
Only later did the actual news arrive: the stunt has been going on in 10 cities for weeks. Don’t look now, but national security is as spotty as we feared.
By way of apology Turner Broadcasting said “the ‘packages’ in question are magnetic lights that pose no danger. They are part of an outdoor marketing campaign in 10 cities in support of Adult Swimâ€™s animated television show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. They have been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger.”
For the record, the blinking light gizmos depict characters from the show called “mooninites,” named Ignignokt and Err, who are known on the animated stoner hit for making a rude hand gesture. The devices were in place to promote a feature film based on the TV series, due in March.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.